Delayed start times recommended for middle and high schools

With students heading back to school, pediatricians are recommending to let teens sleep in.

The American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday recommended that middle and high schools delay the start of classes to 8:30 a.m. or later.

The reason is to align school schedules to the biological sleep rhythms of teenagers.

“Studies have shown that delaying early school start times is one key factor that can help adolescents get the sleep they need to grow and learn,” pediatrician and lead author of the policy statement Judith Owens said in a release.

The policy statement is based on studies that have found that the average teenager is chronically sleep-deprived and pathologically sleepy, according to the release.

The reasons vary, including homework, extracurricular activities, after-school jobs and technology that keeps teens up late on weeknights, according to the release.

The policy statement also recommends that pediatricians counsel teenagers and their parents about healthy sleep habits, including the enforcement of a media curfew.

This story was originally published August 25, 2014 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Delayed start times recommended for middle and high schools."